Here are some characteristics that a food handler should have / do (while handling food):
1. Short nails. Dirts and bacteria is available at everywhere, including the nails. Food handlers wash hands. So when our nails are short, it is easily washing dirts inside the nails. And, if it is long, the inside nails contains dirts, ash, sweat, bacteria, virus etc that couldn't be washed away easily. So, there is no efficiency in washing hands. Thus, food handlers should make sure that their nails are short.
2. Wearing PPE. PPE such as hair cover, face mask and apron should be wore when preparing food. Hair cover prevent hair from dropping on the food. Hair is contaminant as hair contain dirts, ash and bacteria. Do not overlook hairs in the food as it would contaminate the food. Face mask prevents bacteria, virus from your breathing and saliva from contaminating the food. The mask also preventing beard (of man) from falling to the food during preparing food. Apron must be wore to prevent dirts from shirts from contaminating the food. Food handler should aware that never wearing apron with pocket as the pocket is usually dirty after putting hands inside obviously.
3. Not wearing accessory. Accessory such as ear rings, rings, neck lace, watch, chain and other small particles should not be wore as we might overlook such small particles from dropping on food. Besides, wearing accessory such as rings and chain will cause the accumulation of dirt on our hands which could not washed away.
4. Not coughing and sneezing on the food. Coughing and sneezing brings bacteria that could contaminate the food. When food handler have to do that, they should do it on their elbow or tissue. Then wash their hands before continuing preparing food.
5. No spitting and smoking at food preparing premise. The saliva and smoke is dirty and contaminate a lot of bacteria / chemical that could contaminate the food. Do remember to avoid such bad behavior.
6. Not touching food with the bare hands. Our hands touching surfaces of objects and facilities surround us. Door handles, tables, chairs, window, stair handles etc etc. Such surfaces contains bacteria and virus. Bare in mind that every spaces with oxygen do contain bacteria. And our hands everyday, every moment had been contaminated by these bacteria. So, food handlers should never touching the food (when handling food) with bare hands. Food handlers could wear glove / using spoon to take food when preparing food.
7. Use plastic chopping board when cutting raw food. Plastic chopping board is more hygiene compare with wooden chopping board. Wooden chopping board absorb water, causing a rich environment for bacteria growth. When we cut food on the wooden chopping board, crevices easily form and food waste easily trapped in the crevices and is difficult to be cleaned. Thus, it will increase bacteria growth and all food that is cut on such copping board will be contaminated.
We do not want our food being contaminated as people consumed contaminated food will incurr food poisoning. When this happen at our food store, it will causing impact on the business and the reputation of the food business.
3. Not wearing accessory. Accessory such as ear rings, rings, neck lace, watch, chain and other small particles should not be wore as we might overlook such small particles from dropping on food. Besides, wearing accessory such as rings and chain will cause the accumulation of dirt on our hands which could not washed away.
4. Not coughing and sneezing on the food. Coughing and sneezing brings bacteria that could contaminate the food. When food handler have to do that, they should do it on their elbow or tissue. Then wash their hands before continuing preparing food.
5. No spitting and smoking at food preparing premise. The saliva and smoke is dirty and contaminate a lot of bacteria / chemical that could contaminate the food. Do remember to avoid such bad behavior.
6. Not touching food with the bare hands. Our hands touching surfaces of objects and facilities surround us. Door handles, tables, chairs, window, stair handles etc etc. Such surfaces contains bacteria and virus. Bare in mind that every spaces with oxygen do contain bacteria. And our hands everyday, every moment had been contaminated by these bacteria. So, food handlers should never touching the food (when handling food) with bare hands. Food handlers could wear glove / using spoon to take food when preparing food.
7. Use plastic chopping board when cutting raw food. Plastic chopping board is more hygiene compare with wooden chopping board. Wooden chopping board absorb water, causing a rich environment for bacteria growth. When we cut food on the wooden chopping board, crevices easily form and food waste easily trapped in the crevices and is difficult to be cleaned. Thus, it will increase bacteria growth and all food that is cut on such copping board will be contaminated.
We do not want our food being contaminated as people consumed contaminated food will incurr food poisoning. When this happen at our food store, it will causing impact on the business and the reputation of the food business.
Credit: Food Safety and Quality Division, Ministry of Health
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